Ms. Side Character

Chapter 6 - Ballpoint Pen

"Can anyone help me with my drumset?" Sakura asked.

"I can help you senpai after I put the guitars in the gym" I answered back.

Today is our first day of rehearsal in the gymnasium and the morning after the night Sugawara walked me home. 

"Uhh, I didn't know that these guitars are heavy if you walk a mile holding them" 

I was now heading to the location where we are practicing while holding these two heavy guitars that weighed like dumbells. I held each in my hand and it was not a good idea.

As I was walking the staircase heading to the gym, I didn't notice that my shoelace got untied, which made me trip. 

"Oh no--" I thought, if I fall it's either that my face will be the first to touch the ground and get quite many scratches, or it's the guitars that will get broken.

I braced myself, expecting one of them, but a hand tugged my shirt at the back, preventing the fall.

"Oi, are you that excited about crashing on the ground?" someone spoke at the back...

Annoyance was visible in his voice, and I directly knew who he was.

"Arigatou Tsukki" I said.

I balanced on my feet and tried to act normal since, on the inside, I was now starting to simp, a certain mess you would say.

He looked at me with his golden-brown eyes with irritation.

"Do I know you? How did you know it's me? Why are you calling me with that name?" 

He was now flooding me with questions, and all I could do was just pretending that I  am a ghost.

"Why are you know speechless? Answer my questions as payment for saving you from the fall"

"Uhh" I started speaking, this was what I love about Tsukishima, his great sarcasm, "All you need to know is that...I know you?" 

"Huh? Why are you asking me a question? You were supposed to answer my question not make another question."

I could now feel the numbness of both of my arms holding a guitar, I needed to get these inside quick since I'll be helping Sakura-senpai with the drums.

Tsukishima was looking at the instruments I was holding and said, "Aren't you going to put these guitars inside? I'm guessing your arms are about to break right now."

I noticed that too. As I was continuing to climb the stairs heading to the gym, for the second time I nearly fell, until Tsukishima grabbed my shirt. . .again.

"Arigatou Tsukki" I smiled with embarrassment.

He bent down on one knee, grabbed my left shoe which had the untied shoelace, and slowly tied it into two bunny ears, I nearly fell again as he grabbed my foot, however this time, I maintained my balance.

As he finished, he stood up and looked at me with pique.

"That's two payments for you," he said, he then grabbed  the two guitars I was holding  and looked at me, "Three, to be exact..." 

I smiled, I knew that Tsukishima Kei had a soft side.

"Okay! I'll pay you back later on!"

-A Little While Later-

"Akemi-chan, it's really amazing for you to book us a rehearsal in the gym," Sakura spoke, "But---you didn't tell us they will be watching" she pointed out to the group of boys at the corner.